Gerrit Ybema
A pragmatic D66 statesman, he steered Dutch economic policy through the dot-com boom as a trusted secretary in the 'Purple' coalition government.
1945–2012 (age 67)·Dutch politician·Birthday: October 29·The Silent Generation
Biography
Gerrit Ybema embodied the pragmatic, reformist spirit of the Democrats 66 party. His political career was built on substance rather than spectacle, first as a reliable member of parliament for nearly a decade, and then as a key economic minister. His moment of greatest influence came when he was appointed State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Second Kok cabinet, the so-called 'Purple' coalition that excluded traditional Christian democratic parties. Serving from 1998 to 2002, Ybema's tenure coincided with the tail end of the dot-com bubble, a period of rapid technological change and economic optimism. He was tasked with navigating the complexities of European market integration, innovation policy, and trade. Known for his calm demeanor and administrative competence, he worked to modernize the Dutch economic landscape, focusing on fostering entrepreneurship and adapting regulations for a new digital age. His legacy is that of a steady hand during a transformative period in the Netherlands.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Gerrit was born in 1945, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gerrit Was Born
The biggest hits of 1945
#1 Movie
The Bells of St. Mary's
Best Picture
The Lost Weekend
Gerrit's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1945Born
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1950Started school
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1958Became a teenager
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Could drive
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1963Could vote
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Turned 21
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1975Turned 30
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 40
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 50
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 60
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2012Died at 67
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Served as State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Second Kok cabinet from 1998 to 2002.
- Was a Member of the Dutch House of Representatives for the D66 party for almost nine years, from 1989 to 1998.
- Played a role in shaping Dutch economic and innovation policy during the rise of the internet economy.
Did You Know?
The 'Purple' cabinet he served in was named for the mix of socialist red and liberal blue in its coalition.
Before his national political career, he was a civil servant in the Ministry of Economic Affairs.
He left politics in 2002 after the fall of the Second Kok cabinet.
“A coalition government is the art of building a bridge between principle and the possible.”
